Europe News

European governments are once again facing mounting pressure to impose windfall taxes on oil and gas companies after the continent’s biggest energy firms posted soaring first-quarter profits driven by the Middle East conflict and the resulting spike in global energy prices. Major European energy companies benefited heavily from volatility in oil markets following disruptions linked to the war involving Iran. The instability sent crude prices sharply higher and created luc

The European Union is facing an increasingly intricate threat landscape as digital fraud converges with advanced money laundering techniques, creating new challenges for law enforcement and financial regulators. According to recent findings from the Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2026, the growing professionalization of laundering services has made criminal networks more durable and harder to dismantle. These groups are now deploying automated systems that enable

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has indicated that deposit rates in Cyprus remain below those observed across the eurozone, even as lending rates present a more mixed picture across different categories. According to the CBC’s latest data, the average interest rate for new housing loans in Cyprus stood at 3.04 per cent in February, compared with a higher eurozone average of 3.41 per cent. For household deposits with a maturity of up to one year, the average rate reached 1.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice, Italy, has obtained convictions against three individuals—two administrators and one employee of a consortium company—in connection with the misappropriation of European Union funds allocated for the development of Italy’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) network. The case centers on activities that took place between 2016 and 2021, during which the now-defunct consortium received €6,351,088.56 in EU funding. These funds we

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has released a comprehensive report assessing the role of intellectual property as a mechanism for financing innovative enterprises across Europe, arguing that the region is significantly underutilising one of its most valuable economic assets. The study, titled intellectual property-backed financing in Europe, concludes that although the European Union remains strong in research capacity, innovation output, and entrepre

Inflation expectations across the eurozone could accelerate more rapidly than in previous periods, and the European Central Bank must be prepared to respond decisively with interest rate increases if sustained price pressures begin to take hold, policymaker Dimitar Radev has cautioned. The surge in energy prices driven by the ongoing Iran war has already pushed inflation well beyond the ECB’s 2 percent target, prompting internal debate over whether tighter monetary policy is

The European Commission has formally adopted the Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research and Training Programme, marking a decisive step forward in Europe’s pursuit of advanced nuclear technologies. Designed to complement Horizon Europe, the programme covers an extensive range of nuclear research and innovation activities, with the overarching goals of strengthening the EU’s energy independence, boosting competitiveness, enhancing technological leadership, and a

The European Commission has unveiled its proposal for EU Inc., a new unified corporate framework intended to serve as the foundation for the EU’s 28th company law regime. The initiative introduces an optional, digital-by-default European corporate structure aimed at making it easier for businesses to start, operate, and expand across the EU. According to the Commission, the proposal is designed to encourage companies to remain in Europe while attracting businesses that might